Of Equal Importance

 

In the middle of Parshas Emor we recount again the laws and ceremonies of various holidays. Beggining with Pesach, the Omer, and Shavuous - and concluding with Rosh Hashannah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkos. What is strange, however, is what comes in between Shavuous and Rosh Hashannah.

In the middle of discussing these holidays, the Torah reminds us of something it has already said earlier; 'And when you harvest your field, do not cut off the corners, and your gatherings of your harvest- do not gather, leave them for the poor and the convert, I am Hashem (23:22)'. What is this doing in the middle of the holidays?

Rashi quotes that the pasuk is specifically put in the middle of this discussion to teach us the following idea: Anyone who does these mitzvos, of helping the poor and the convert, is considered as if he or she has built the Beis HaMikdash and brought sacrifices on the altar, just as they do during the holidays.

We know that mitzvos can be categorized into two sections: Those that are done solely for the sake of Hashem, and those that are done between you and fellow man. Perhaps the idea Rashi is trying to impart is that we cannot view one as greater than the other. It is easy to get swept up in the chase of Learning Torah and Davening to Hashem-which are obviously very important- but one musn't neglect that which is just as important. We must treat our fellow man with the utmost respect and kindess. Hopefully then, as Rashi says, we will once again merit the building of Beis Hamikdash.